Tim has been involved in 56 shows with the company over its 10 years, and this week told his mother Joss Reid that he wanted to do something to help.
With ticket sales in a slump, the company faces a $30,000 loss on its three-show season and might have to fold.
Tim's rare 1882 one-penny stamp, which has a catalogue value of $2500, is now up for grabs on online auction site Trade Me.
"Youth Theatre has been his life," said Ms Reid. "I thought if he is willing to do that, maybe others would be, too."
Tim, who has Aspergers syndrome, first encountered Nelson Youth Theatre four years ago when he was dared to audition for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He made the cast, but then found his place in production.
"It's given me confidence," he said. "Usually I'm not too good with big audiences, but now I'm out the back it's not too bad."
Tim said he enjoyed standing backstage and seeing the excitement on the faces of the actors walking off.
"Then it's great to see the smile on the audience's faces when they walk out the door."
Tim bought the unused lilac postal fiscal stamp two years ago. It is the piece de resistance of his collection of hundreds of thousands of stamps.
Early Victorian fiscal stamps were "duty" stamps, but from 1882 they were allowed to be used for postal purposes. Duty stamps were mainly used as a convenient method of signifying the collection of charges for land transfers and other dutiable transactions.
The last stamp similar to Tim's went for $800 on TradeMe.
Tim was one of the first to find out about the company's troubles. When he heard the news, he fell silent. Others began to cry.
"I was kind of shocked. Usually a show does make a tiny loss, but not that much."
Audiences have picked up in the past two days. Ms Reid, who also helps with production, is hoping for a big finish and more support from the community.
"The people involved put so much commitment into it. It's become their life. We are all like a big family."
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/4211574/Stamp-collector-steps-up-to-help
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